Merry CHRISTmas!!!

Lolly

We have a special guest at our house this month. (And the kids have asked that she continue to visit after Christmas is over. :)) Her name is Lolly. Yes, my children named her. The first suggestion as Golly, so Lolly is good! She is our Christmas Angel. (You can find out more about them here.) 

First off I must say a HUGE THANK YOU to my awesome Aunt Tricia for giving us Lolly!!!!!

Each night I set Lolly up with a message of how we will give the next day. She has truly blessed our family! We have enjoyed focusing on others this Christmas season. The angels are God's messengers, and we are too, so we are trying to spread Jesus by the messages of our actions. I have made it my goal to really focus on Jesus and giving this year. Lolly has helped us to do that. We are also doing The Jesse Advent Tree. (Hopefully, next year we don't move at this time of year and I can plan better!) I pray that seeds of Jesus are being planted in my children's hearts as we seek to share Him with others.

Here are some pictures of Lolly and her messages that we have received so far...
Our first day we read her story and just talked about her and focusing on Jesus and getting excited about His birth.

 We made cards to share our thanks with our teachers at church.

 Sadly, we haven't actually accomplished this, but it is in the plans for this Thurs or Fri!

 Lolly hid in the tree! :)

 Here is her message. (We decorated a little tree for Grandaddy.)

 We wrapped 8 presents to go under Grandaddy's tree; one for each day starting Dec. 18 thru Christmas Morning.

Sunday Lolly had to rest because Mommy and the 2 youngest children were up almost all night! But, the 2 oldest and Mommy dropped off the tree and presents at Grandaddy's door and ran. (He somehow figured out it was us!)

I have to say that I am very proud of the kids for going through their toys and picking out like new things to give to children that lost everything in the tornadoes in April!!!

 We will be sharing our smiles at home tomorrow, and out and about as we drop off the toys and go visit Grandaddy since he was upset we ran and didn't stay. :)

I look forward to Lolly continuing to visit throughout the year some, and especially next December! I am thinking she will be around once a week throughout the rest of the year, but Mommy won't tell which day. :)

I pray that God will use Lolly to bring us closer to Him and make giving and thanks part of our lifestyle, being Jesus to those around us.

2010 Angels

We finally finished up the angels with the kids hands and feet. :) I love where I put them on the wall!! Janie Beth trully is singing with the angels! I haven't put a face on Janie's and I am not sure if I will. I plan on putting 2009 on the body of her's with a pink sharper as well.

They are in age order. Josiah, Katie Jo, Eli, Janie Beth, Joy Michelle

  All of their angels are hanging in order from most recent at the top to first one at the bottom. We started in 2005.
Josiah, Janie Beth, Eli, Joy Michelle, Katie Jo

Christmas Activities and Life

We are trying to follow Hubbards Cupboard Christmas activities this year. It is really neat and I really like it! We have done 3 days. Why is it when the weekend comes our schedule goes out the window!?! I had planned on doing the activities over the weekend also, but this weekend was packed. We are trying to get back on track today, but Joy Michelle had a rough night and is now having reflux troubles, so we will hopefully catch up tomorrow. We might get some done tonight, I hope!

We are replacing math with Christmas activities this month. Josiah is ahead in Math, so we are just reviewing and doing a worksheet or two a week. School is hard to get done right now! When my grief is close to the surface, it is hard to get it done! Here it is almost 1:00 and we haven't done anything yet. They are cleaning up and then we will do phonics.

I am just so jumbled up! I want things to go great for my kiddos and really focus on Jesus this month, but it is all I can do to get through some of the days. I know it will come in time; at least, I hope so! From reading others blogs I know it gets slightly easier as time goes by. I hope to get things tomorrow to put on Janie Beth's grave, and maybe that will help me some.

I have really been in the mood to finish up the shopping. I had fun last week going to a craft show and the mall. Joy Michelle is shaping up to be another shopping partner! :)

This December just feels alot like last December. I feel as though I am just going through the motions. My house is a mess. I can't seem to get myself in order enough to keep up with everything. I am telling you, grief takes all of your strength sometimes! I am very thankful that I have Joy Michelle to snuggle. She reminds me to slow down sometimes. When she is fussy, I just sit with her, and I remember to cherish these times!

I am trying hard to encourage my family and focus on each of them each day. Eli has really been in need of this lately. I am keeping him close to my side and having him help me with as much as he can because he is being extra "fun" these days. ;) Josiah is the one I am trying to encourage the most. I am telling you, this is way out of my comfort zone! I pray that God really grows in me the ability to encourage all those around me.

The kids can feel the grief and maybe they are grieving themselves as they are constantly at each other these days.

I will say I have a peace that passes understanding as I walk through these days. I can feel God like I did at the beginning of this year. I am very thankful to have Him so close to my side. I pray that He is close to bringing our family out of the limbo we have been in for 2 years now!

The uncertainty for the days ahead is harder some days than others. It is hard to watch the bank account dwindle!

Father, please have compassion on us! May You do exceedingly abundantly above all we could ever ask or think. May You continue to move on our behalf, and write my faith when I cannot see what you are doing and do not understand. You are in control, and I will leave the reigns in Your hands. Open the eyes of my heart and lead me in Your will. I love You! Grow me, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.